SPORTS SECTION E
WORLD SERIES, Page 8
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2018
Ed Smith thrilled to be honorary ambassador By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net BIRTHDAY boy Ed Smith said he’s thrilled to have been selected as the honorary ambassador for the 2018 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl. On his 68th birthday yesterday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium with family and friends, including long-time childhood playmate Allan Ingraham, Smith shared the stage at a press conference with organisers of the fifth annual bowl game, scheduled for 12:30pm on December 21. Among those in attendance were Pete Derzis, the senior vice president
of college sports programming and events at ESPN, Richard Giannini, the executive director for Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, Dr Jon Steinbrecher, the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, Tyrone Sawyer, the senior director of airlifts for the Ministry of Tourism and Quinton Brennen, the new general manager of the National Sports Authority. Smith, who grew up in Bain Town and played multi-sports for the Big Red Machine at St Augustine’s College before he moved to the United States at the age of 15, was the first Bahamian to be drafted in the National Football League by the
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Ed Smith, the first Bahamian to be drafted in the National Football League by the Denver Broncos, speaks at yesterday’s press conference for the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
Denver Broncos as a defensive end in the 13th round as the No. 319th pick overall in 1973. Although he would only play two seasons due to a torn knee ligament just prior to the 1975 season opener that eventually led to him retiring from the NFL before the 1977 season, the 6-foot, 5-inch, 241-pound Smith was able to inspire a number of Bahamians to play American football, including his son Alex, who played 11 seasons in the NFL. “I think when it was all said and done, all that I was able to achieve on the football field, was no bigger achievement than watching
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Ayton posts another double By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
T
he Phoenix Suns are going through their growing pains in the National Basketball Association and so is Deandre Ayton in his rookie season. The Suns’ No.1 pick in June’s NBA Draft posted another double-double, but it wasn’t enough as Phoenix fell short 123-103 to the two-time defending champions Golden State Warriors and Bahamian descent Klay Thompson at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, on Monday night. Ayton, the highly acclaimed 20-year-old, 7-foot, one-inch centre, pumped in 20 points with a game high 14 rebounds and five assists as the Suns dropped to 1-3 to sit in a three-way tie for 11th place in the Western Conference and tied for third with the Sacramento Kings in the Pacific Division. “Every game I play I learn from it,” Ayton said. “This game I learned about how fast we can move. Those guys are grown men and they were running faster than us. We’ve just got to keep up our energy and not come out slow and really lock in on defence.” Two other players were in double figures for the Suns as Devin Booker, back from an injury last year, paced the way with a sidehigh 28 points, six assists and five rebounds and TJ Warren helped out with 27 points, four rebounds and three assists. With the win, Golden State improved to 3-1 for third place in the Western Conference and first place in the Pacific Division. Thompson, in 25 minutes, scored 26 points with four assists and three rebounds, joining five other players in double figures as his backcourt running mate Stephen Curry led the attack with a gamehigh 29 points, eight assists and four rebounds. The Warriors led from start to finish, taking a 32-23 margin at the
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No.1 pick in NBA Draft scores 20, grabs 14 rebounds in loss to defending champions Warriors
UB MINGOES’ BASKETBALL SEASON TO TIP OFF IN ILLINOIS THIS WEEKEND THE University of the Bahamas Mingoes men’s basketball team is all set to tip off its season with two games at the Governors State Jaguars Tip-Off Classic in Illinois this weekend. “After our preseason games in Summer of Thunder we looked at what was working and have been building off that heading into the season,” said head coach Bacchus Rolle. “We’ve had two months to pull everything together for the season,” he added. Rolle pointed out that the team has been working on post play and making smart basketball decisions. “We need to be smart in the post because we usually don’t match up with other teams in terms of size so we have to beat them with smarts in the post,” he said. “And then our guards need to make smart decisions coming into the front court. We’ve been working on these two aspects of our game along with boosting our transition defence among other things and we expect to perform well in Illinois and the rest of the season.” The Mingoes open against Calumet College St Joseph at 6pm (Bahamas time) Friday in University Park, Illinois. The UB squad then faces the tournament hosts Governors State University 4:30pm (Bahamas time) on Saturday.
EQUESTRIAN BAHAMAS’ FIRST HORSE SHOW OF THE SEASON HELD
PHOENIX Suns centre Deandre Ayton, right, shoots against Golden State Warriors centre Damian Jones in the first half on Monday night in Oakland, California. The Warriors won 123-103. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
THE first horse show of Equestrian Bahamas’ 20182019 season was held at Mariposa Stables. Spectators were treated to stylish performances by junior equestrians from New Providence, Andros and Grand Bahama, according to a press release. Riders competed at all levels, from Future Champions in leadline right up to the 3-foot level. The show was judged by Linda Mancini, USEF R-rated judge in Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation, and owner of Winners Circle Farm in Warwick, New York. “Congratulations to all riders and trainers on goals achieved, lessons learned, and ribbons won. A great time was had by all,” said
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Amateur Boxing Federation gets ring thanks to Albany By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net WITH the new administration in the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation taking on a new initiative on Friday night in hosting an
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All-Bahamian elimination event at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, the only thing missing was a proper boxing ring. Federation president Vincent Strachan said they are so grateful that Albany stepped up to the plate and assisted them in providing the ring just in the nick of time. “This is a God-sent gesture,” said Strachan yesterday as he received the donation along with his treasurer Wellington Smith from Albany’s vice president Dr Tyrone McKenzie at Albany. “I was in Cuba and I was speaking with Carl Hield and I told him that we are putting on the show on Friday and we don’t have a ring,” Strachan said. “When I got home, we got a call from Albany, who told us that they have a ring for us. It could only be through divine
SHOWN (from left to right) are Vincent Strachan, president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation, Dr Tyrone McKenzie, vice president of Albany (Bahamas) and Wellington Smith, treasurer of the BABF, as they display a portion of the ring donated by Albany.
intervention because I believe in God and he’s a part of my life and what I believe, I always achieve.” While he came unexpectedly, Strachan said he and his executives are excited and they will certainly enjoy it because they have a huge burden lifted off their shoulders. In congratulating Strachan and his new executive team, McKenzie said they heard the cry about the assistance they needed and they had $12-15,000 for first class equipment, including a full-fledge ring and all of the punching bags and accessories, so they decided to donate it to the federation. “Whenever there is a need, as good corporate citizens, we make every effort to assist,” McKenzie said. “Considering the focus and
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